Any owners to share pros and cons of fox red Lab and King Charles spaniel?

[Tully1557]

Hi, I would really appreciate any lived experience of these dogs. I’ve known a CKC and he was the sweetest dog. However, the small skull/health issues are a worry. I've known a few gorgeous labs who were utterly mental in the first three years of life - chewing the entire kitchen kind of mental. But I’ve also known of some who were relatively calm and obviously easy to train.

We’re a family of four with children aged 6 and 4. The children are used to dogs. There would always be someone home with the dog apart from the odd trip out on a weekend. We have a garden and access to lots of walks. This isn’t something we’re planning on doing for maybe another year, so I’ve got plenty of time for research and thinking.

If anyone can share the good, the bad and the ugly it would be great!

One of my working labs fits this bill entirely, personally I think she is too small for a lab at 20kg but lots of people we meet think she's a perfect size. Confident but cautious enough that's she's super easy to manage, totally eager to please, has never chewed anything she shouldn't etc etc.

The range of personalities even within the same litter though means getting the 'perfect' pet dog is a bit of a lottery.

My other working lab from very similar lines is very much not the perfect pet dog! Far more intelligent, confident and independent.

I have a delightful little CKCS cross. She's from lady who breeds for health and temperament and the parents, grandparents etc were all tested for Chiari syndrome/syringomyelia (the small skull problem) and had repeated heart scans. She does outcross her cavaliers to maintain good health.

My dog is gentle and loving, adores children, is scared of our cat, and loves her walks (she usually has an hour in the morning and a shorter one in the afternoon). She doesn't have separation anxiety and she is just adorable. Let me know if you'd like more details and I will PM you.

I've just spent a week looking after a failed guide dog lab, lovely dog, sweet temperament, soft as butter, calm, needed one good walk a day plus an energetic play session at home, mostly very chilled out.

I don't think colour is a good reason for choosing a dog.

I read an apt description of labradors:

0-4 months Andrex puppy
4-24 months velociraptor
24 months+ nice dog

We're currently in stage 2. I have the local labrador rescue on speed dial. But have managed to resist so far.

@BeachRide We’re just entering the ‘nice dog’ stage, although he does revert every so often (and I used to threaten Dogs trust…).

(any excuse to post picture)

I have a fox red lab, she came from a working line. She is dinky for a lab 16kg at nearly five years old. We are well over the puppy years and honestly she is a fab dog. Brilliant with dc ( youngest was 5 when we got her) , motivated by food = easy to train, needs decent exercise but is very happy to be with you pottering in garden, snuggling on sofa, sleeps by me whilst I work. No health issues so far. Got her from a working farm, parents are gun dogs, all the health checks done. She rarely barks I think due to working heritage but will bop you firmly with her nose to get your attention.

May I ask if you've neutered him? We keep reading different advice about it. If you did, did it affect his behaviour at all?

Yes, we did (or the vet did!), at around fourteen months, which was earlier than I’d originally planned, but he was a very lively lab.

Overall, I’d say his personality stayed the same. However, he no longer needed to wee at every lamppost, so walks became alot easier. Also, he stopped humping his mat.

He did become slightly calmer, but that could have also coincided with a new (to us) dog trainer Recognising we had an anxious dog and helping us to get over that (previous trainers hadn’t recognised this, and one called him a yob, but in retrospect he played up due to anxiety).

So overall it was a positive experience for us.

@ToplessWordle some details would be great, thank you!

Conversation has returned to the good old lab…! We remain on the waiting list for a guide dog reject, which I imagine is a 10-year wait. And because you can’t guarantee a 16kg calm lab, I just don’t think we can risk it!

My thoughts have been on Italian greyhounds this afternoon. They look like they’d break in half, but they sound like a potential option apart from that.

The closest I've met was a golden retriever x cocker spaniel. He was phenomenal

I adore labradors and have had dozens during my life - I work with them.

I think a lab could blend perfectly into the family circumstances you describe - if you pick the right one.

I would actually completely disregard the colour and concentrate on picking an excellent breeder instead. They will be able to advise you on the right pup and will be glad to give you lots of advice and help.

Labs give off this reputation of being perfect family dogs and there is nothing that swells my heart as much as a kegged out Labrador on a squishy sofa or surrounded by kids, a picnic, a nearby source of water and some mud. However, finding a brilliant trainer is as important as finding a brilliant breeder - they grow almost by the hour and their massive size as puppies can often overwhelm people as they try to settle them into their home. So it's crucial you have the best support you can find.

Good luck and I hope you find the dog for you soon - breeder and trainer over colour 👍🏼

Hi Tully, I've PM'd you

Agree. We have a lab, friends have a fox red. While theirs indeed is slightly smaller, he is an absolute live wire. That said, they tend to laugh at him when he is naughty. Out black boy on the other hand was a mischievous adolescent (11-17 months was peak naughty age) but now aged 4 he is a calm gentle soul yet still playful and loving. Never barks. Loves long walks and adores children. Colour is nothing - it’s nurture that counts. We took training and routine seriously and try to instil rules. Our house isn’t too chaotic so he doesn’t get wound up every 10 secs.

We have a rescued cavachon. Last owner passed away.
9 years old is in perfect health.
Calm, friendly unless you wear a high Viz jacket 🤣🤣
Loves walks, cuddles, kisses and treats.
Safe around the grandchildren. Likes all dogs and next doors cat.